Thomas Tongue, shareholder in the Portland office of regional law firm Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt, was recently appointed co-leader of the firm’s Business and Transaction Practice Group. Tongue will share his leadership responsibilities with Carmen Calzacorta.Tongue has extensive experience representing clients in a broad array of business transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, securities, and corporate finance. He serves as primary corporate counsel for several Oregon businesses including Parr Lumber Company and Columbia Steel Casting Co.As a fifth generation Oregon attorney, Tongue is deeply committed to helping the Oregon State Bar and the local community. He is an adjunct professor at the University of Oregon School of Law where he teaches a course on mergers and acquisitions. Tongue actively supports the March of Dimes and serves on the board of that organization. He previously served two three-year terms as an elected representative for the Oregon State Bar House of Delegates. He also served on the Steering Committee for Oregon Entrepreneurs Network’sVenture Oregon event and volunteered as a coach for the Classroom Law Project’s Mock Trial program. Law & Politics magazine recognized Tongue’s professional and community activities by naming him a “Rising Star” (2008-2010). He is a graduate of the Portland Business Alliance’s Leadership Portland program. In 2010, the Portland Business Journal named Tongue one of its “Forty Under 40” emerging business leaders.Tongue graduated from Vanderbilt University before obtaining a joint JD/MBA degree from the University of Oregon.